Week 2 Key Matchup: defending Michael Vick

Posted on: September 17, 2010 8:27 am

Posted by Andy Benoit

It usually takes a national holiday to inspire Americans to watch a Lions game. This week, however, a lot of eyes will be on Motown with football fans tuning in for Michael Vick’s expected starting debut as the Eagles quarterback. Vick looked like the Vick of old in Philadelphia’s second half loss to Green Bay. His electrifying athleticism is back. So how will Detroit defend him?

The short answer: with zone coverage. Zone defense, whether it’s traditional Cover 2 with cornerbacks guarding the flats and safeties covering the deep middle, or Quarters with each of the four defensive backs taking ¼ of the field, is the obvious tactic against a mobile quarterback because it allows defenders to see all of the action in front of them. In man coverage, defenders must follow the receiver and turn their back to the ball. When teams see man coverage, they often design their routes simply to clear out defenders against the run (FYI, Sean Payton happens to be a genius with this tactic). You obviously can’t leave that kind of open field for Vick.

Thus, look for Detroit to strictly play zone defense Sunday. (For what’s it worth, you can tell what type of coverage defenders, especially linebackers, are playing by how they take their first step. A first step towards the line of scrimmage usually indicates man coverage; a first step backing away from the line of scrimmage indicates zone.)

Chances are, even without Vick, the Lions would have played a lot of zone against the Eagles anyway. Reason being, the Lions cornerbacks simply don’t have the speed or agility to handle the quickness of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Because the way to beat Jackson is with physicality at the line of scrimmage, and because Lions corner Chris Houston is ineffective when he’s not physical, don’t be surprised if Houston and company try to get a jam on the Eagle receivers before dropping into their zone. This will not only disrupt the timing of the routes, but it will also disguise some of the defensive looks for Vick. You have to figure Vick will be a tad rusty in his reads, given that he hasn’t had a team game-plan specifically against him in roughly three years.

Last week, once Vick entered the game, the Packers secondary employed some of the purest zone coverages known to football.

However, the Packers remained aggressive with their front seven blitz tactics. This flustered Philly’s passing game at times, but whenever Vick was able to flee the pocket and get outside the widest defender, he found plenty of open space to eat up (hence his 103 yards rushing). The Lions can’t afford to yield those kind of running lanes.

Don’t be surprised if Detroit shadows Vick with a linebacker. Using a shadow linebacker can be expensive in coverage, but it’s not like Vick scans the field with the quickness of a Manning or a Brees. A shadowing linebacker doesn’t just provide a fulltime potential tackler against the quarterback, it also forces him to scramble outside, where the sideline can act as a 12th defender. When Vick was a Falcon, no team defended his running better than Bucs. The Bucs were a zone-based team (Tampa 2) that used their fast linebackers to shadow and force Vick outside.

The Lions used Landon Johnson and Julian Peterson as their nickel linebackers in Week 1; of the two, the versatile and athletic Peterson would make the best shadow option. In base packages, middle linebacker DeAndre Levy, who did not play in Week 1, is Detroit’s best athlete, though coaches may want Levy focused on attacking downhill.

Keeping Vick’s scrambling in check is a tall order. The Lions, with their iffy back seven personnel, will need a dominant performance from Ndamukong Suh and company just to have shot. At least the blueprint is clear.

Week 2 Key Matchup: defending Michael Vick

Welcome, purely thought desire to be intrigued to learn which usually I do have added in consumers to great Internet favorite bookmarks supplied that from the respective magnificent web page construction (Lmao). On the contrary truthfully, I feel that your chosen internet page needs One specified of this most clear thought Website came upon. They truly provides render researching a blog webpage actually instead quite a lot simpler.

Since: Dec 2, 2011

Posted on: January 31, 2012 9:49 pm

Week 2 Key Matchup: defending Michael Vick

That i love individuals providing this method webpage text.Regards But bear in mind all over again. Always keep growth.

Since: Dec 2, 2011

Posted on: January 31, 2012 8:17 pm

Week 2 Key Matchup: defending Michael Vick

I actually unveiled your site online several situations before, and as a result fortuitously, that one can keep in mind this I seemed to be wanting to find the first sort 2 or 3 weeks, regards

Since: Dec 2, 2011

Posted on: December 14, 2011 10:52 pm

Week 2 Key Matchup: defending Michael Vick

Hi all, purely expected you will be still interested to master that we need added in surely my own Search engines social bookmarks primarily because of your respective stunning web log style and design (Haha). But then really, Personally i think your site owns a single on the most clear theme There is. It genuinely aids allow grasping your amazing blogging and site-building spot far rather easy.

Since: Dec 2, 2011

Posted on: December 14, 2011 10:26 pm

Week 2 Key Matchup: defending Michael Vick

I do know you actually distributing this amazing site piece.Thanks Once again. Remember to keep generating.

Since: Dec 2, 2011

Posted on: December 14, 2011 9:00 pm

Week 2 Key Matchup: defending Michael Vick

All of us personally seen your ultimate web blog in Google a small number scenes back in the day, and therefore you'll be, that could be they We were interested by the earlier schedule, thanks a lot

Since: Dec 2, 2011

Posted on: December 4, 2011 9:16 am

Week 2 Key Matchup: defending Michael Vick

Hey there such a extraordinary article There is make and therefore adventure all of us Seems seeking out against this close form of piece of writing to have until now regular and as a result hardly came across this type of. I praise you an amazing include which will then seek for a much more postings from yourself.

Since: Dec 2, 2011

Posted on: December 4, 2011 8:48 am

Week 2 Key Matchup: defending Michael Vick

Home furnishings thank you for it superb with the net website page .My husband and i little question treasured each one earlier little or no touch of doing it. Website users saved internet eshop to find out about together with the scores of excess items you generate. ,,,,, Took me place employing a target to employ a browse through the multitude of review articles, all the same basically relished every origin. It turn into growing to be Truly best for me personally and therefore excellent mates that i'm especial some of the commenters correct

Since: Dec 2, 2011

Posted on: December 4, 2011 7:15 am

Week 2 Key Matchup: defending Michael Vick

Interesting web-site, saved the web page on the net with the case to help look a bit more!

Since: Nov 12, 2006

Posted on: September 18, 2010 2:22 am

Week 2 Key Matchup: defending Michael Vick

Of course he was a mediocre QB. That's really not even disputable. He was a dynamic runner but refused to do the things a real quarterback needs to do, like sit in the pocket in the face of a rush, go through his progressions, and do something other than throw the ball to the first guy he saw or run. Show me a quarterback who has ever won a super bowl like that. The fact he was a dynamic runner only made some of the gross weaknesses less apparent.